Hinge structure



Aug. 31, 1937. 5, DE ORLOW 2,091,673

I HINGE smucwnz Filed Jan. 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ETEFHEN DE URLUWAug.31, 1931. 5, DE RLow 2,091,673

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 a SnQBtS -SnQu 2 5 TEFHEN DE URL-0Wfim/dfy Aug. 31, 1937. $.05 ORLOW HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1937 3Sheets-Shoot 3 ETEFHEN DE URL Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hinge construction forhoods, rear deck, rear truck lid of automobiles and the like where thecontours of the hinged part as well as the question of appearancerenders the use of conventional hinges impractical.

Recent changes in body design of automobiles has necessitated adeparture from the conventional type of hood hinge. It has been proposedto use a lid type of hood having its hinge line transversely disposed tothe longitudinal axis of the chassis and adjacent the cowl. v Because ofthe weight and the curvature of this type of hood it is not practical touse a conventional hinge. It'is desirable that the hood be firmlysupported in either raised-or lowered position and at the same time thehinge should be inconspicuous and of a construction permitting the hingeline to be located between the crown of the curvature of the hoodwithout interference between the edge of the hood adjacent the hingeline and the cowl.

Thus one object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the aforesaidpurposes which is inexpensive, sturdy, and capable of supporting thehinge part firmly in both opened and closed positions.

Another object is to provide a concealed hinge which is particularlyadapted to be .used in connection with a hinged sheet metal part ofcurved contour.

A further object is to provide a pantagraph type of binge in which apivotal point for the hinged part swings through an arc duringhingingmovement.

A still further object is to, provide a hinge of the aforesaidconstruction of a design supporting the hinged part in an open positionwithout the necessity of auxiliary props.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the specific detailsof construction and Y combination of parts will be more fully set forthhereinafter and will be understood when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings whereinseveral different embodiments of theinvention are disclosed:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the hood structure of anautomobile, parts of whichhave been broken away showing one type ofhinge structure located at the sides of the hinged part,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another form of hinge structureadapted to be used intermediate the opposite sides of the hinge part,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of hingestructure shown in open and closed positions and disassociated from thefixed and hinged parts,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of hinge structurecapable of supporting the hfhge part in open position, 1

Fig. 5 is 'a cross-sectional view through the hood structure showing onepossible arrangement of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 3 of a further modified form of hingestructure designed to be resiliently urged to both open and closedposition, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2 of further modified forms ofhinge structure embodying the present invention.

In Fig. 1 is shown a side-elevational view of an automobile having a lidtype of hood. The lid III as shown is equipped at the forward end with ahandle l2 in the form of an ornament which maybe rotated to lock andunlock the lid in the position shown in full line. The handle I2 isshown rotated through 180 preparatory to lifting the lid 10 to thedottedline position. The lower edge of the lid I0 is indicated at H andthe rear edge at Hi; the rear edge It with the lid l0 closed overlies acushioned ledge l8 of the cowl structure generally designated 20 in .the

-manner. of the conventional hood. Pivotally supupon opposite sidesthereof adjacent the edge I4.

It will be noted from a consideration of Fig.1 that the hinge line ismaterially below the crown 40. This necessitates bodily lifting of theentire lid l0 and forward movement so that the edge that this axisswings through an arc scribed by the arms 32. The shorter arms 34 defineand control the pivotal movement of the lid III as it is raised andlowered. It is to be understood, however, that the pins 38 might be justas accurately considered the pivotal axis of the lid I0 and the longerarms 32 as in control of pivotal movement for the reason that pivotalmovement of the lid l0 takes place about both the pins 36 and 38.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. This hinge isparticularly dis posed to be used in either single or double units andto be supported upon an upper surface of the cowl structure rather thanat opposite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1. With a single'unit thehinge would be supported centrally of the inside. The rear edge I6 isshown flush with the cowl 20 and resting upon an anti-rattle and sealingstrip 44. The hinge construction takes the form of four strips of sheetmetal 46, 48, and 52 with the ends of each strip curled in a well knownmanner in hinge constructions to form eyes through which pins 64 arepassed to form pivotal connections. The strips 46 and 50 are welded,bolted or otherwise suitably attached to the dash 24 and reinforcement42, respectively. As in the hinge construction shown in Fig. 1, thestrip 48 is longer than the strip 52 with the. same movement beingimparted to the lid I0 upon being raised, namely, the lid I0 is bodilyraised and moved forward and at the same time pivots clockwise about theaxis of the pins 54 at opposite ends of the strip 50.

In Fig. 3 isshown a hinge unit which may be conveniently attachedbetween a fixed and hinge part, as for example, in the manner of thehinge in Fig. 2, or in connection with rear deck or rear truck cover ofautomobiles or other similar purposes. Upper and lower attachment plates56 and 58 are shown with cars 60 serving as bearings for the pins 62which connect the arms 64 and 66 to the plates. As shown, a latch member68 is freely pivoted fromthe same pin 62 as the upper end of the lever66 and is provided with a notched out portion 68 which is adapted toreceive the pin 62 at the lower end of the lever 64 when the hinge is;in the raised position shown indotted outline. In this manner the member68 is capable of locking the hinge in an opened position andnecessitating the lifting of the member 68 to collapse the hinge intoclosed position. A further modification oi the invention is shown inFig. 4 in which the hinge itself is so designed as to make itunnecessary for any auxiliary means to be provided for holding-the hingepart in a fully opened position. In this form of the invention the hingemay be substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 3 with theexception that the shorter arm I0 is L-shaped,

suitably curvilinear, or otherwise shaped to accomplish the followingdescribed results. Referring to the dotted line representation of thelid I0 in fully opened position, it will be noted that the shape of thearm 10 provides clearance of the overhanging of the edge I6 beyond thepivotal connection I6. Moreover, in fully opened position the connectionI6 is positioned to the left of the center line between the pivotalconnections I4 and I8. From this it will appear that the weight 'of thelid I0 as supported by the pivotal connections 16' and I8 is tending tohold the lid I0 in the dotted line position. In order to close the lidI0 it is necessary to first raise the lid I0 bodily by a forward andupward movement bringing the connection I6 to the right of the centerline between the connections I4 and I8. from which position the lid I0can then be pivoted above the connections 74 and 18 to closed position.with the foregoing arrangement the weight of the lid I0 is acting tolock the same in a fully opened position and the locking action will bestable as long as the cantilever weight of the lid I0 is held toinsuflicient value to efiect a bodily lifting of the lid I0 to a pointpermitting pivoting of the lid about the connections I4 and I8.Obviously the stability of the locking feature is increased by a designwhich positions the lid l0 when fully opened closely approaching thevertical.

In Fig. 5 one satisfactory arrangement of the hinge shown in Figs. 2, 3,and 4 is illustrated.

The hinges illustrated correspond in specific construction to the hingeof Fig. 2 and are shown as fixedly supported in specially shapedrecesses in the cowl construction providing horizontal portions and 82for placing the pivotal connections of the hinges in horizontalalignment. Attention is directed to the fact that the pivotalconnections at 84 and 86 with the fixed bases of the hinges aresubstantially below the crown 40 of the lid I0.

An arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 for resiliently holding the hingeconstruction in fully opened and fully closed positions. The hingeillustrated is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 enabling the fixed base88 thereof to,,be..welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the oppositesides of the cowl construction. Theshorter of .the. two arms 90 and 92is provided with an ear 94 ofiset to one side of a center line betweenthe pivotal connections 96 and 98. A C-shapedarm I00 is pivotallyconnected to the car 94 by a pin connection at I02. A spring I04 isconnected at I06 to the arm I00 and at I08 to the base 88. With theupperplate IIO to which the hinged part is attached in the position shown,the hinge is closed. In this position the pull of the spring I04 throughthe connection I02 is below the connection 98 and the spring acts tohold the hinge closed. When the hinge is opened up the arm 90 will bemoved anti-clockwise and the center line between the connections I02 andI08 will be above the connection 88 whereby the pull of the spring besupported in an opened position without any auxiliaryprops.

In Figs. 7 and 8 are illustrated embodiments in which the arm members ofthe hinge are in crossed relation in lazy tong manner with the exceptionthat the effective hinging length of the associated members is unequal.For example in Fig. '7 the member I22 is shorter than the member I24,the ends of the members having pivotal connections with the upper andlower attachment plates I26 and I28 in the manner of the embodiment ofFig. 3. The reinforcement I30 is shown extended to provide a channel I32underlapping the forward edge I34 of the cowl I36 and carrying a sealingstrip I38. Upon lifting movement of the hood part I40 thedifferentiation in length of the members I22 and I24 will pivot thehinge part to the position shown in dotted line. In Fig. 8 the membersI42 and I44 are crossed as in the embodiment of Fig. '7. However, anaction similar to the constructions of Fig. 1 through Fig. 6 has beenaccomplished through a pin and slot connection at the end of the longerof the two members. As shown the member I44 has an angular end I46 whichis slotted at I48 to receive the pin I50. Upon an initial openingmovement of the hood part I52 2. forward pull will result in the hoodpart being bodily lifted as the member I42 is swung counterclockwise andmoved forward so that theedge I54 will clear the ledge I56 of the cowlI58. During such movement the pin I 50 which is carried by the upperplate I60 will be moved a'long the slot I48. When the edge I54 hascleared the ledge I56, the hood part may then be hinged about the pinI50 and the pivotal connection I62 inthe manner similar totheconstruction of Fig. 7; It will be understood that suitable props orrests may be used in conposition. This is also true with theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the'sealing members 44 and I56 are of relatively soft rubber,sufllcient yieldability is 5 present to take care of any excess closingaction that may take place upon moving the hinged part to fully closedposition. When the sealing member for the hinged part is relativelyunyielding as in the case of the usual woven web, the lower plate I ofthe hinge structure illustrated in Fig. 4 may be yieldingly anchoredto'the cowl structure through bolts I10 having springs I12 surroundingthe shank thereof and against which the nuts I'll are drawn up. Such anarrange- 15 ment will enable the plate I68 to yield slightly to avoiddistortion of the cowl or hinge structure if in the course ofmanufacture there should be such discrepancies as to offer resistance toa complete closing of the hinge. It should be understood that where thesoft rubber sealing member' is used or the spring structure shown inFig. 4 that under proper design the hinge structure when fully closedwill be held under sufficientthe hinge part adjacent its hinge line ismerely,

held to its seat by spring tension and a certain looseness of structureis always present..

From the foregoing description it should become apparent that I haveprovided a principle 40 in construction making possible rugged concealedhinges particularly adapted for hinged parts curvilinear in contourandrequiring bodily as well as pivotal movement in order to clearassociated structure. For the reason that one of the major fields ofapplication is in connection with automobile hoods, the severalillustrated forms of the invention have been disclosed and describedwith reference to the so-called lid type of hood. It is to beunderstood, however, that the herein described hinge construction haswide application and for this reason'I do not wish to be restricted bythe foregoing disclosure except as appears from the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hoodsupporting ledge and a part' extending forward of said ledge, a hoodpart in closed position having the rear edge thereof dis- 50 posed uponsaid ledge, of a hinge structure fixedly supported from said part forpivotal movement and attached for pivotal movement to the underside ofsaid hood part forward of said rear edge, said structure comprisingmeans for bodily supporting and guiding said hood part forwardly uponopening movement to clear said ledge, and means for controlling thepivotal movement of said hood part about said first means.

2. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hoodsupporting ledge and a part thereof disposed forward of said ledge andbelow 'at least a portion thereof, a hood part in closed position havingthe rear edge thereof disposed upon said ledge, of a hinge structurefixedly'supported from said part defining pivotal connections below aportion of said ledge, said structure being attached to and havingpivotal connections with the under side of said hood part forward ofsaid rear edge, said structure comprising means including said pivotalconnections for bodily supporting and'guiding said hood part forward toclear said ledge upon initial opening movement and for pivotal movementthereafter.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hoodsupporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hood partin closed position having the rear edge thereof disposed upon saidledge, of a hinge structure comprising a pair of members of unequallength having the opposite ends thereof pivotally supported from saidcowl part and from said hood part adjacent the rear edge thereof, theshorter of said members being disposed between said other member andsaid rear edge, said members upon initial opening movement of said hoodpart supporting the same for bodily forward movement and for pivotalmovement about an axis scribing an arc upon opening movement of saidhood part.

4. In an automobile, the'combination with a cowl having a hoodsupporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hood partin closed position having the rear edge thereof disposed upon saidledge, of a hinge structure between the pivotalconnections of saidlonger member and the rear edge of said hood part, said members andpivotal connections with said parts being so proportioned and positionedas to support said hood part for bodily forward movement upon initialopening movement of said hood part to clear said ledge, and for pivotalmovement about an axis scribing an are. a

5. In an automobile, the combination with a cowl having a hoodsupporting ledge and a part extending forward of said ledge, a hoodpartin closed position having the rear edge thereof resting upon said ledge,said ledge and rear edge being curvilinear, of a hinge structurecomprising a; pair of members of unequal length located upon one side ofsaid hood part, a similar pair of members of unequal length located uponthe opposite side of said hood part, said members having the lower endsthereof pivotally supported for swinging movement from said forwardlyextending part, the upper ends of said members having pivotal connectionwith the underside of said hood at opposite sides thereof, the shortermember of each of said pairs of members having its connection with saidhood part forward of said rearv edge and said ledge, and its pivotalconnection with said forwardly extending part located still furtherforward, whereby upon open ing movement of said hood part, the upper endof said shorter members swinging upwardly and forwardly causing saidrear edge to clear saidledge and to be positioned forwardly of saidledge when the hood part is in a raised position.-

STEPHEN DE ORLOW.

DISCLAIMER 2,091,673.Stephen De Orlow, Detroit, Mich. HINGE STRUCTURE.Patent dated August 31, 1937. Disclaimer filed July 11, 1940, by theassignee, Hancock Manufacturing Oompany.

- Hereby disclaims from the scopeof claims 1 and 2 of said LettersPatent all slylstems except those wherein the hinge line is below thecrown of the cowl, and wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair oflinks spaced from each other longitudinally of t e hood, one end of eachwhereof is pivotally connected to the hood and the other end of eachwhereof is pivotally connected to the cowl.

Gazette December 10, 1940.]

